Valve actuating lever



March 6, 1945. H, E, PLEASANT 2,370,750

VALVE ACTUATING LEVER Filed Sept. l, 1943 27 +2 J0 l n f /////////A 3 wam We; Herman f. Plea-nt Patented Mar. 6, 1945 OFFICE VALVE lACrUA'rrNG LEVER Herma E. Pleasant; Holland, lvnch.,` assigner t Crampton Manufacturing'Crimpany;`

Mich., a corporation of Michigan' Application September 1, 1943, Serial No.v 500,752

f 1 claim. (o1. 1 -c7) The present invention relates to valve actuating levers and more particularly to improvements 1n handle and valve operating lever assemblies especially adapted for use in connection with flushing tanks.

The primary objects ofthe instant invention are to provide an assembly of the general character above indicated which has relatively few parts; to provide such anfassembly which is simple yet sturdy in construction; to provide such an assembly which is compact and eflicient in use; to provide such-an assembly which may be readily and conveniently af'xed on the wall of a flushing tank; and, to provide such an assembly which is reasonably economical in manufacture.

The device herein illustrated and described is a modification of or improvement over the device shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,295,686 for Valve actuating lever, iiled November 21, 1941, by myself and Fred M.

Keller, issued September 15, 1942.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a flushing tank, partly broken awayand showing a conventional ball valve vdevice operatively connected with its actuating lever assembly; I

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional-view thereof on line 2 2 of Figure 1; y

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational View of the handle of the assembly, a portion thereof being broken away on line 3 3 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the handle; Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of 'the handle and a fragmentary portion of the operating lever shown in its assembled relation with the wall of the flushing tank;

Figure 6 is a sectional View on line 6 6 of Figure 2; and

Figure '7 is a sectional View on lines I 'l of Figures 2 and 5. v

Referring then to the drawing wherein-,like parts of the assembly shown are each designated -by the same numeral in the several views, a

lated links I6, I7, the upper of which 'is pivotally connected at one end of the actuating lever I5 and the lower of which is rigidly secured to the ball valve I4 andWhich lower link I1 is vertical-ly slidably embraced within aligned vertical apertures in the fingers I8 of the bifurcated bracket I9 secured to the overflow pipe I2 in a lateral disposition relative thereto.

The front wall of the flushing tank IIJ is provided with an opening 20 therethrough, preferably squared or otherwise non-circular in character, and a tubular fixture 2I projected through gers forming a noncircular opening at the i end of the tubular shank 23 of the fixture 2 I.

A nut 26 threaded on the shank 23 of the xture 2| is preferably employed to secure the xture in itsl assembled relation with the wall ofthe ushing tank I0.

A handle -21 provided with a laterally turned head 23 having a chambered recess 29 therein within which recess the circular head 22 of the xtureZI is adapted to seat, is provided with a non-circular spindle 30, y,cruciform in cross section for a portion of its length to provide strength and projecting through the tubular shank 23 of the xture 2I and beyond the ends of the spaced axially projecting shank end fingers 25.

The actuating lever I5 has a laterally turned y with respect to the fixture 2l limited by the enf gagement 'of its bifurcated head between the spaced fingers 25- as best'shown in Figure 7.

In assembly of the device in operative position ywith respect to the flushing tank I 0 and as shown flushing tank III of conventional type and having an outlet II, isl provided with an overflow pipe I2 .connected with the outlet port below the valve seat I3, all as best shown in Figure `1.

.A ball valve I4 disposed upon itsseai', I3 as in Figure 1, the actuating lever of the assembled fixture is inserted from the front of the tank t through its squared opening 20 with the squared Y.

portion 24 of the fixture 2| embraced by the squared wall of the opening in the tank whereupon the nut 2S is threaded on the shank 23 of the xture and drawn uptight against the inner. wall of the tank as best'shown inFigures 2 and 5.

It will thus be seen that tilting of the handle 2l from its position shown in full lines 'in Figure 1 to its position shown in dotted lines in the same View lifts the ball valve Il from its seat I3 resulting in ushing of the tank since the rotation of the handle 21 within the xture 2l is limited by its non-circular spindle 30 in engagement with the spaced shank end fingers 25 of the 11xture 2|.

While but one specific embodiment of the 1nvention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that certain details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted Without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is dened by the following claim.

I claim:

In a device of the class described: a tubular provided with a screw-threaded shank having spaced axially projecting shankrend ngers; a handle provided with a laterally turned head having a chambered recess Within which the flanged head of the xture is seated, said laterally turned head having a spindle with its terminal portion located between said axially projecting end lingers in spaced relation with the same and projected through the xture beyond the ends of the spaced axially projecting iingers; and an actuating lever having a laterally turned portion secured to the end of the spindle having a bifurcated head spacedly seated between said axially projecting fingers providing a limited rota- XIlle adapted to be xedly Secured thlugh the 15 tive movement between said fixture and lever.

Wall of a tank, said xture having a flanged head HERMAN E. PLEASANT. 

